5 Places Disney-Lovers Have To Visit

Are you a huge Disney fan? Do you obsess over Walt and the huge legacy he created? If so, you have to visit these five Disney locations!

These locations will give you a look into the wondrous life of Walt Disney. They will allow you to see how Walt created the world of Disney as well as what inspired him to create it.

1. Marceline, MO

Marceline, Missouri is where Walt spent most of his childhood years. He lived here from age 5-9 and visited a few times as an adult. Between 1905 and 1909 Walt lived on a small farm about a half-mile outside town.

The town had such a major impact on Walt’s life that he stated, “To tell the truth, more things of importance happened to me in Marceline than have happened since — or are likely to in the future.”

Marceline’s Main Street is where Walt gained inspiration for Main Street USA. When creating Disneyland, Walt wanted Main Street USA to be the image of a small American downtown. You can visit the original Main Street USA and when you do, you will see that little has changed.

There is also the Disney Hometown Museum. Walt had always dreamed of creating a Disney museum in Marceline, but sadly he passed before he was able to do so. After his passing, the town was gifted with more than 3,000 of Walt’s items.

Here, you see and learn about Walt’s family life in Marceline and his visits during adulthood. The museum is led by Disney-loving volunteers. Click here to learn more.

The town’s elementary school is even named after Walt Disney. The interior walls even feature Disney characters. This is a fun photo spot to add to you checklist if you’re stopping by Marceline.

2. The Walt Disney Family Museum

The Walt Disney Family Museum was actually founded by Walt’s daughter Diane Disney Miller. It is located in the scenic Presidio of San Francisco.

The museum features “contemporary, interactive galleries with state-of-the-art exhibits narrated in Walt’s own voice alongside early drawings, cartoons, films, music, a spectacular model of Disneyland, and more.”

Click here to find out more.

3. Walt Disney’s Barn

Have you ever wanted to stop by Walt Disney’s Barn? Well, if so Griffith Park in Los Angeles is the place you can do it! Walt had a passion for trains and this barn is where he used to build and maintain his train collection. Walt also brainstormed many ideas inside this barn and one might say, “it is the birthplace of Imagineering.”

The barn is pretty small, but is filled with Walt’s handmade work benches along with other tools and personal items. This the perfect place to enjoy a family picnic while gaining a little Disney knowledge.

The catch is that the barn is only open the 3rd Sunday of the month from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Make sure that you plan your trip accordingly.

Visit the website to find out more!

4. The Tam O’ Shanter

The Tam O’ Shanter restaurant is located a few miles from the Disney Studios in Burbank and is the oldest restaurant in Los Angeles, California. This restaurant, which has been in the same location and under the same management since 1922, happened to be one of Walt Disney’s favorite places to eat.

He and his animators dined here so much that it was called “the Studio Commissary.” Walt would often sit at Table 31. There are even said to be doodles from Disney and his artists on the table.

A big rumor surrounding this location is that it inspired Snow White’s cottage. Another variety of this rumor is that Tam O’ Shanter inspired Pinocchio’s Daring Journey at Disneyland.

Click here to read all about the Tam O’ Shanter

5. Walt’s Birthplace

Walt Disney was born in Chicago, Illinois. If visiting, you should stop by to see Walt’s family home on the corner of Tripp Avenue and Palmer Street. Since the house has been bought and changed by numerous people, it is now being restored. The house was originally designed and built by Flora and Elias Disney, Walt’s parents. Both Walt and Roy were born in this home! Walt lived here until he was 4 and until Roy was 12.

Walt Disney Birthplace ©waltdisneybirthplace.org

The people restoring the home to the original state also hope to preserve it for years to come. They have also seen this as an opportunity to research this period of the Disney family history.